Tag: seek the lost
Jesus loves “Short” people!
Scripture reading for March 28: Luke 19
“And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see Who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd, he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully.” Luke 19:2-6
My mother loved to tell this story about Jesus. She was a short woman and I inherited her stature. This story had impacted her life and she shared it with her children and the Sunday School she helped to lead at our country church. She even had a song she taught to her children that I remember yet today! “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he!” was the first line!
Zacchaeus was a short person who was also ‘short’ on spiritual stature according to his fellow Jews. He had become a tax collector for the Roman government and was viewed as the lowest of sinners. But Zacchaeus had a desire to know more about this Jesus Who was drawing crowds and healing people. He made a plan to get a view of Jesus by climbing a tree. As Jesus passed by, Jesus looked up and called out to Zacchaeus to come down. Jesus wanted to spend some time with him at his house! Zacchaeus received Him joyfully! This created a real stir among the religious folks and they began to grumble and complain. Zacchaeus stood and announced a change of heart (and stature)! In true repentance, he would restore four times all he had stolen to become rich. He would give half his goods to the poor. Jesus announced to him that “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.” (Luke 19:8-10) It was Jesus mission to seek and save the lost!
Have you ever had a desire to know more about this Man Jesus? What kind of a plan might you make today to get a better understanding of Him? Can you believe that He wants to spend time with you and bring salvation to your house and family?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for my godly mother who faithfully told me and others Your great love for all the “short” people of this world. Use me today to reach out to those who may feel ‘short’ because of rejection, sin and shame, or others judgments. I am receiving You in my house with rejoicing! Amen!
“Jesus-please leave!”
Scripture reading for October 15: Mark 4-7
We who love Jesus can’t envision asking Him to depart from us. We would invite Him to stay with us as long as possible to enjoy His companionship. Jesus wants to come and be with us as well. He came to earth to seek out and save lost people. (Luke 19:10)
After ministering to a crowd all day, Jesus told His disciples that they should go to the other side of the lake. They got in boats and Jesus got in the stern, found a cushion and went to sleep. As they crossed the lake in the night, a furious wind arose that threatened to swamp the boat. The disciples excitedly woke Jesus, pleading for help. Jesus rebuked the wind and waves and a calm suddenly fell upon them. They were terrified and marveled about how the wind and waves obeyed Jesus! He chastened them for their fear and lack of faith. (Mark 4:35-41)
When they got across the lake, a man with an evil spirit came from among some tombs to meet Jesus. He had chains on his hands and feet and looked like a madman. Upon seeing Jesus, he ran to Him and fell on his knees begging not to be tortured. The man’s name was “Legion” because of the large number of demons in him. Jesus rebuked the evil spirits and sent them into a large herd of pigs as they had requested. The swine ran over a steep bank, tumbled into the lake and drowned.
The man was delivered, set free from the bondage, and in his right mind! (Mark 4:14-17) The people of the region, who depended on the pigs for their sustenance, were terrified and angry. They came to Jesus and asked Him to leave their region. Mark records that Jesus got into the boat to leave, and the delivered man asked to come along. Jesus sent him back to tell his family of what the Lord had done for him and then departed. This man became an evangelist, telling others what Jesus had done for him.
Jesus loved and cared for His own disciples. He’s always with us and is aware of our needs! He has given us authority through faith in Him to do what He has asked of us. Nothing is too hard, dangerous, or difficult! Jesus loves to go out of His way to find those who need help. He will go through water, storm, and forces of hell to reach a lost soul. Those who were only into themselves were threatened by Jesus’ presence. They asked Him to leave! Let’s ask the Lord for His passion to reach the lost!
“Jesus, please leave!”
Scripture reading for October 16th: Mark 4-7
We who love Jesus can’t envision asking Him to depart from us or leave our town. We would invite Him to stay with us as long as possible to enjoy His companionship. Jesus wants to come and be with us as well, for He came to earth to seek out and save lost people. (Luke 19:10)
After ministering to a crowd all day, Jesus told His disciples that they should go to the other side of the lake. Jesus got in the stern, found a cushion and went to sleep. It had been a hard day and He was tired! As they crossed the lake in the night, a furious wind arose that threatened to swamp the boat. The disciples excitedly woke Jesus, pleading for help. Jesus rebuked the wind and waves and a calm suddenly fell upon them. He chastened them for their fear and lack of faith. (Mark 4:35-41)
When they got across the lake, a man with an evil spirit came from a graveyard to meet Jesus. He had chains on his hands and feet. The man’s name was “Legion” because of the large number of demons in him. Jesus rebuked the evil spirits and sent them into a herd of pigs as they requested. The swine ran over a steep bank, tumbled into the lake and drowned. Nearly two thousand pigs died!
The man was delivered, set free from the bondage, and in his right mind! (Mark 4:14-17) The people of the region, who depended on the pigs for their sustenance, were terrified and angry. They came to Jesus and asked Him to leave their region. Mark recorded that Jesus got into the boat to leave, and the delivered man asked to come along. Jesus sent him back to tell his family of what the Lord had done for him and then departed.
Jesus loves and cares for His own disciples. He’s always with us, even when we think He might be sleeping or unaware! And Jesus loves to go out of His way to find someone who needs help. He came to seek and save the lost! He will go through water, storm, and forces of hell to reach a needy soul. But those who are into themselves are threatened by Jesus’ presence. They asked Him to leave!